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| Roopkund Lake in Summer (copyright: Tour My India) |
Lying in the Himalayas at a altitude of more than 16000 ft, the unfurling scenic beauty of the route to Roopkund has always been an attraction to the tourists. It is a high altitude glacial lake in the Trishul massif of the state of Uttarakhand, India. Surrounded by the captivating nature- snow-clad mountains, gushing streams, never touched forests with delightful splash of green, rock strewn glaciers Roopkund is a feed to every nature lovers eyes. The lake is so small, about 40m in diameter and 3m in depth. To be your surprise, this lake is locally known as the 'Mysterious lake' or 'Skeleton lake'. The much the place is beautiful, the much it is mysterious. Every summer when the ice melts, hundreds of human skeletons are seen there, at the edge of the lake. But why?
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| Winter beauty (Copyright: National Geographic) |
It has been a mystery for so many years. Little is known about the origin of these skeletons, as they have never been subjected to systematic anthropological or archaeological scrutiny, due to the disturbed nature of the site, which is frequently affected by rockslides. The site is very often visited by the local pilgrimers and trekkers who have knowing unknowningly distured them. Local folklore describes a pilgrimage to the nearby shrine of the mountain goddess, Nanda Devi, undertaken by King of Kanauj, Raja Jasdhaval, with his pregnant wife, Rani Balampa and their many attendants, who—due to their inappropriate, celebratory behavior—were struck down by the wrath of Nanda Devi. Some believe that the skeletons are of a military crew led by General Zorwar Singh during the Battle if Tibet in 1840's, some says it is a group of merchants died in epidemic.
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| Skeletons Covered by Snow (Copyright: The Hindu BusinessLine) |
The skeletons were discovered by a British forest guard Hari Kishan Madhwal in 1942. Initially, it was believed that the skeletons were those of Japanese soldiers who had died while crossing that route during World War II. But no theory was too strong to be established. Finally the genomic study revealed the truth!
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| Skeletons piled up (Copyright: Research Matters) |
Along with the skeletons, wooden artifacts, iron spearheads, leather slippers, and rings were also found. When a team from National Geographic magazine retrieved about 30 skeletons, flesh was still attached to some of them. Scientists have now found out that the skeletons were of pilgrims and locals as the bodies dated to around 850 AD and the other group is of around 17th century. The skeletons are of two different groups, one group is composed of individuals with broadly South-Asian related ancestry from 9th CE, and the second group is composed of individuals from 200 years ago with genetic affinity with east Mediterraneans. Anthropological study revealed that their skulls are injured by something round like a ball. But there was no other injuries in the bodies. So they have finally concluded that maybe the group was a victim of natural calamity. As the objects hit their head is said to be round they have said that it could be hailstones or iceballs that took their lives.
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| Beautiful Roopkund (Copyright: Wikipedia) |
The mysterious nature along with this mysterious lake is must go destiny for trekkers. You may visit once if you are not aftaid of ghosts!
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| Geographical location of Roopkund (copyright: Nature) |
---By Wayfarer
Resources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roopkund
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/north/story/uttarakhand-roopkund-skeleton-lake-mystery-solved-bones-9th-century-tribesmen-died-of-hail-storms-165083-2013-05-31
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/2019/08/dna-study-deepens-mystery-lake-skeletons-roopkund/
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